Thursday, August 13, 2015

...Aunt Frances' Pickles...

...I have my Mom's old Better Homes Cookbook...it's pretty raggedy...
...and it was a hand-me-down from my Aunt Vivian when she got it...and we can probably trace my love of cookbooks to this one...as I can remember pouring over the cookie pages as a child...
...I still use the cookbook proper from time to time...not a lot of vegan recipes in there...but between it's pages are some old handwritten recipes that I don't want to misplace...so I always leave them right there...where they were when I got married and Mom gave me the cookbook...
...and this old card...in Frances' handwriting in red ink is very dear...
...two cups of lime in 2 gallons of water...
...soak overnight...
...look at the funny green colour the lime water became...
...rinse two or three times...I just keep moving them back and forth between sinks...
...mix up your spices and vinegar...
...and bring it to a boil...
...drain the cucumbers...
...and cook in the vinegar solution 35 - 40 minutes...
...sterilize your jars...
...and get your lids ready...
...this recipe makes exactly 4 quarts of sweet pickles...(or 3 quarts and 2 pints as the case may be)...

Aunt Frances' Pickles

7 lbs. cucumbers sliced
Soak overnight in 2 C. lime and 2 gal. water.
Rinse two or 3 times and let stand a little while in cold water.

Mix 2 qts vinegar
4 1/4 lbs sugar
1 T. pickling spice
1 T. celery seed
1 T. cloves
1 T. salt
Boil 35 or 40 min
seal and pack...I'm pretty sure she meant pack and seal...

...tell me about your favorite heirloom recipe...

~Have a lovely day!

3 comments:

  1. I learned to cook with the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. I definitely like the older editions verses the newer ones.
    The pickle recipe looks great, much easier than the 10 day pickles I make.

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  2. mmmm, mmmm those look terrific!!! i bet they're almost so sweet they make your teeth hurt :-)

    love, k

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  3. My Grandma had a recipe book in which she wrote recipes over the decades from her marriage in 1914. I asked my mother what happened to it - oh, I chucked that old thing out was her reply! No lover of keeping things was my mother. I do have my beloved Aunty Margaret's recipe book in which she wrote many of her own recipes and I treasure that. My daughter is named for my Aunty Margaret.

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